Odishatv Bureau

Bhubaneswar: Odisha DGP RP Sharma today rubbished the social media rumours about "child lifting gangs" that have triggered mob frenzy across the state.

Briefing media persons, Sharma said, "There are no such gangs and no cases of child theft have been reported anywhere."

He appealed the citizens to restrain from spreading such rumours and stop attacking innocent people on suspicion of child lifting."The rumour has gone viral on social media messages leaving the people in panic. With the fear running deep down, they have started attacking any stranger they spot in the locality," said Sharma.

“Even if someone is found behaving suspiciously, they must first approach the police and report the matter, “said the DGP adding that SPs of all districts have been instructed to keep a strict vigil in their respective areas.

Expressing disappointment over the attack on innocent people in some parts of the State, Sharma said, "No such gangs have come under the police scanner. The news that they are arriving from the neighbouring States is totally false," he said.

Notably, incidents of mob attacks on innocents mistaken as child-lifters were today reported from Ganjam, Rayagada and Nayagarh districts.

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